We’ve still got a few weeks left in 2017, but the color experts are already announcing their favorite paint shades for 2018.

In September, the Pantone Color Institute announced its Fashion Color Trend Report Spring 2018 edition ahead of New York Fashion Week. The top two colors are bold primary colors: Meadowlark, a lively shade of yellow, and Cherry Tomato, a bright orangey red. The 12-color palette also included several shades of violet and pink.

Trends in clothing fashion and home décor usually go hand in hand. Several paint manufacturers have announced their 2018 favorite color choices, which range from bold reds to a neutral gray-beige hue.

Benjamin Moore named Caliente, a vibrant shade of red, its Color of the Year 2018.

“Strong, radiant and full of energy, Caliente AF-290 is total confidence. It is pleasing, passionate and makes people feel special, like ‘red carpet treatment’,” said Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore Director of Strategic Design Intelligence. “Whether used as one note or on four walls, the spirited personality of red turns heads signaling surprise and adventure. The eye can’t help but follow its bold strokes.”

Sherwin Williams also made a bold choice but in a different color family. The company chose Oceanside, which the company describes as a “fusion of rich blue with jewel-toned green … (that) offers a sense of the familiar with a hint of the unknown, bridging between old and new, light and dark.”

“Green-blues in deep values, such as Oceanside, respond to changes in light, which is a quality that creates intense dimension,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “It is a tremendously versatile color and harmonizes with other diverse color groups.”

Wadden added that blues “evoke a multitude of moods and associations depending on hue, shade, and application … (yet) they are universally perceived as intelligent, honest and interesting—making blue the most beloved color worldwide.”

“People today have a growing sense of adventure, and it is making its way into even the coziest corners of our homes. We are craving things that remind us of bright folklore, like mermaids and expeditions across continents. Oceanside is the color of wanderlust right in our own homes,” says Wadden.

Behr Paint announced its first-ever Color of the Year selection in August: In the Moment. A “tranquil, spruce blue,” In the Moment offers “a restorative blue-green hue honoring nature to create a soothing atmosphere. Versatile and welcoming, this grounding neutral is a serene backdrop to spaces where you unwind and recharge,” according to a press announcement from Behr.

“In The Moment speaks to our society’s desire to disconnect and be present,” said Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr. “Spruce blue, soft gray, and lush green coalesce into a fresh shade that evokes a sense of sanctuary and relaxation amid our always-on lives. In The Moment crosses multiple design styles—global, coastal, modern—and pairs well with other subdued colors to create harmony for interiors or exteriors.”

“Sandstone Tint is a hue that nods to the simplicity of the past, while also making a modern, color-confident statement that looks to the future,” according to the Dutch Boy announcement. “It is a practical yet sophisticated shade that can be seamlessly incorporated throughout the home, whether the painter is a novice DIYer residing in their first city loft or a seasoned one, purchasing a new home for their ever-growing family. In functional spaces, like a family room, Sandstone Tint serves as an unassuming backdrop for décor that features bright pops of color, such as a rich greens or gunmetal grays. When applied to more intimate spaces, like a bedroom, the hue creates a restful zen oasis that is as calming as it is beautiful. Sandstone Tint can be best paired with items like weathered wood, hand-crafted terracotta, and metallic accessories, and craft spaces that portray understated elegance.

“You can make a den feel cozy by painting the walls with a warm color, or make a narrow space feel wider by using different colors on opposing walls. The paint colors you choose, as well as the color of the furniture and accessories, all create a mood,” according to Matteucci.

Choosing the right color helps set the mood of a space in addition to complementing the other elements in the room, including furniture, appliances, and/or cabinetry. So choosing paint shades is a complex yet energizing experience for the homeowner.

To get additional advice for your next paint project, visit any of our local paint and building supply retailers in the West Georgia area. And if you are painting your home in preparation for sale, any of our Duffey Realty agents will be happy to provide advice on choosing colors and other ways you can better prepare your home for today’s real estate market. Visit our website or give one of our agents a call today.